Crimson Vision

CRIMSON VISION

A Power Rangers Dark Fantasy

CHAPTER ONE

The Girl Beneath the Crimson Moon

The moon was bleeding.

At least, that was what the people of Ravenhollow whispered whenever the sky turned crimson.

Tonight, the moon hung above the ancient city like a terrible warning, casting its scarlet glow over the crooked rooftops, abandoned cathedrals, and narrow cobblestone streets.

And somewhere beneath that unnatural light, nineteen-year-old Sienna Van Woodenstein was practicing forbidden magic.

Again.

“Umbra noctis... sanguis aeternum...”

A circle of crimson runes flickered beneath her boots.

Sienna stood in the center of an abandoned cathedral, her long black cloak fluttering despite the absence of wind. Silver chains decorated her dark clothing, and a ruby pendant rested against her chest.

Her eyes glowed faintly red.

In front of her floated an ancient spellbook, its pages turning without being touched.

“Come on,” she whispered. “Just a little more.”

She extended her right hand. Black smoke twisted around her fingers. A tiny crimson flame appeared above her palm.

For one beautiful second, it remained perfectly still.

Then—

BOOM!

The spell exploded. Sienna flew backward, landing unceremoniously in a pile of dusty velvet curtains.

“Ow.”

A shower of sparks drifted from the ceiling. She sat up, coughing.

“Okay. That was definitely not supposed to happen.”

A small black raven perched on a nearby statue tilted its head.

“Caw.”

Sienna narrowed her eyes. “Don’t start, Salem.”

The raven cawed again.

“Yes, I know I almost destroyed the cathedral.”

Salem flapped his wings.

“Technically, it’s already abandoned.”

The raven stared.

Sienna sighed. “You’re impossible.”

She climbed to her feet, brushing dust from her cloak.

Most girls her age were attending university, going on dates, or worrying about their futures.

Sienna was trying not to accidentally summon an ancient demon.

Again.

Such was life as the last daughter of the Van Woodenstein bloodline. A family of dark mages. A family feared throughout the magical world. And a family whose secrets had been buried for centuries.

Or so everyone believed.

Until tonight.

The Whispering Mirror

The cathedral’s enormous stained-glass windows suddenly rattled.

Sienna froze. “Salem?”

The raven’s feathers puffed up. Something was wrong.

The crimson flame hovering above the spellbook flickered violently.

Then a voice echoed through the cathedral.

“Sienna...”

Her blood ran cold. It was a woman’s voice. Soft. Distant. Almost familiar.

“Sienna Van Woodenstein...”

She turned toward the altar. “Who’s there?”

Silence.

Then—

“Find the Crimson Vision.”

The ancient mirror behind the altar shattered.

Sienna threw up her arms as glass exploded outward. But the shards stopped in midair.

Hundreds of glittering fragments floated around her, suspended by an invisible force.

Inside every fragment, she saw the same image. Nine armored warriors.

Their suits were unlike anything she had ever seen. Crimson. Blue. Pink. Black. Gold. Purple. Green. Silver. And a mysterious warrior clad in dark red armor.

They stood before a towering gothic castle beneath a blood-red moon.

Sienna slowly lowered her arms. “What... are you?”

The image changed. A crimson-armored warrior stood alone, holding a sword surrounded by scarlet lightning.

Then Sienna saw something even stranger. The warrior removed their helmet.

Beneath it—her own face stared back.

Sienna stumbled backward. “No.”

The mirror fragments began spinning.

“No, no, no. That’s impossible.”

The voice returned. “The darkness does not make you evil, child.”

Sienna’s ruby pendant began glowing.

“It is what you choose to protect that determines who you become.”

A blinding flash of crimson light filled the cathedral.

And suddenly—everything went black.

A Visitor from Another World

When Sienna opened her eyes, she was lying on the cathedral floor. Salem was standing on her stomach.

“Caw!”

“Salem, you’re crushing me.”

The raven hopped onto her shoulder. Sienna groaned and sat up.

The mirror was gone. The floating spellbook lay closed beside her.

And in the center of the altar rested something that hadn’t been there before. A small crimson crystal.

It was shaped like a diamond, with silver markings carved into its surface.

Sienna approached cautiously. “Well, that’s not suspicious at all.”

She reached toward it. The crystal pulsed.

A strange mechanical voice spoke.

“CRIMSON ENERGY DETECTED.”

Sienna jumped. “WHAT?!”

“MAGICAL SIGNATURE CONFIRMED.”

She stared at the crystal. “Did... did you just talk?”

“SIENNA VAN WOODENSTEIN. POTENTIAL RANGER IDENTIFIED.”

Sienna blinked. “Potential what?”

Before the crystal could answer, the cathedral doors exploded inward.

Three monstrous creatures marched through the entrance. Their bodies were covered in black iron armor, and purple flames burned inside their helmets.

The largest carried an enormous jagged axe.

“THE VAN WOODENSTEIN HEIR!”

Sienna slowly turned. “Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.”

The monster pointed its weapon at her.

“BY ORDER OF EMPRESS NOCTURNA, YOU WILL SURRENDER THE CRIMSON HEART!”

Sienna looked at the crystal. Then at the monster. Then back at the crystal.

“...I’m guessing you mean this?”

“SEIZE HER!”

The creatures charged.

Sienna raised both hands. “Umbra Vinculum!”

Black chains erupted from the floor, wrapping around the first monster’s legs. It crashed face-first into the stone.

The second swung its sword. Sienna ducked.

“Rude!”

She snapped her fingers. A burst of violet fire slammed into its chest. The creature flew backward through a broken pew.

The third monster roared. “YOU CANNOT ESCAPE THE EMPRESS!”

Sienna smirked. “Funny. People keep telling me that.”

She lifted her hand. Crimson lightning danced between her fingers.

“But I’m very good at disappointing people.”

She fired. The monster stumbled backward, its armor sparking.

For a moment, Sienna thought she had won.

Then the cathedral began shaking. A massive shadow appeared outside the stained-glass windows.

A voice thundered across Ravenhollow.

“SIENNA VAN WOODENSTEIN!”

The roof cracked. Sienna looked upward.

“Oh, that’s bad.”

Very bad.

The Crimson Ranger Awakens

A gigantic armored beast tore through the cathedral roof. Its wings were made of jagged black crystal, and its eyes burned with scarlet fire.

Sienna staggered backward as rubble rained around her. Salem screeched and flew toward the rafters.

The beast landed before the altar.

“I AM MALGRATH, EXECUTIONER OF THE CRIMSON THRONE!”

Sienna swallowed. “Lovely introduction.”

Malgrath raised his claws. “YOUR BLOODLINE ENDS TONIGHT!”

He unleashed a blast of dark energy. Sienna threw up a magical shield.

The impact sent cracks racing through the floor. Her arms trembled. Her shield began breaking.

She couldn’t hold it. Not for much longer.

Then the crimson crystal rose into the air.

“DANGER LEVEL CRITICAL.”

Sienna gritted her teeth. “Really? I hadn’t noticed!”

“CRIMSON VISION SYSTEM READY.”

The crystal transformed. Metallic pieces unfolded around it, forming a strange device that snapped around Sienna’s wrist.

A morpher.

Sienna stared. “What is this thing?!”

“YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN.”

Malgrath charged. Sienna had no time to think.

The device projected a glowing crimson symbol into the air.

A voice echoed through her mind.

Call upon the vision. Embrace the power.

Sienna lifted her wrist. “Fine!”

Crimson flames erupted around her.

“Let’s see what you’ve got!”

She thrust her arm forward.

“CRIMSON VISION—MORPH!”

A circle of ancient runes appeared beneath her feet. Scarlet lightning struck the ground.

Dark metallic armor formed around her legs and arms, followed by a breastplate decorated with a glowing ruby.

A flowing crimson cape materialized behind her.

Finally, an elaborate helmet formed around her face. Its visor resembled two glowing magenta eyes, framed by silver and crimson armor.

A diamond-shaped crystal shone on her forehead.

The transformation ended with a thunderous explosion of scarlet energy.

Sienna stood completely still. She looked down at herself.

“...Okay.”

She flexed her armored fingers.

“This is officially the coolest thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Malgrath roared. “IMPOSSIBLE!”

Sienna tilted her helmet. “Apparently not.”

A sword appeared in her hand. Its blade glowed crimson, surrounded by black magical flames.

“CRIMSON SHADOW BLADE ACTIVATED.”

Sienna smiled beneath her helmet. “Oh, I like that.”

Malgrath lunged. Sienna moved instinctively.

She spun beneath his claws, slashed across his armored chest, and landed gracefully behind him.

Crimson sparks exploded from the wound. The monster howled.

Sienna stared at her sword. “Did I just do that?”

The morpher chimed. “COMBAT SYNCHRONIZATION: COMPLETE.”

“Good to know!”

Malgrath charged again. This time, Sienna was ready.

She summoned a wall of shadow, vanished into it, and reappeared above the monster.

“Crimson...”

Her sword ignited.

“VISION...”

A massive magical sigil formed behind her.

“STRIKE!”

She brought the blade down. A brilliant crescent of crimson energy tore through the cathedral.

Malgrath screamed as the attack struck his chest. The beast exploded into a storm of purple sparks.

Silence fell.

Sienna landed in the center of the ruined cathedral. Her cape settled behind her.

She looked around. Broken pews. Shattered windows. Half a missing roof.

“...Well.”

Salem flew down and landed on her shoulder.

“Caw.”

Sienna sighed. “Yes, Salem. I know.”

The raven tilted his head. She looked up at the enormous hole in the roof.

“I’m definitely going to need a new practice location.”

The Other Chosen Ones

Far beyond Ravenhollow, in a hidden chamber beneath the mountains, eight mysterious crystals began glowing.

Blue. Pink. Black. Gold. Purple. Green. Silver. And rose-gold.

An ancient mechanical guardian awakened. Its eyes flashed white.

“THE CRIMSON RANGER HAS AWAKENED.”

A holographic map appeared above the chamber floor. Eight lights flickered across the world.

“INITIATING RANGER RECRUITMENT PROTOCOL.”

On the wall behind the guardian, an enormous symbol glowed. A crimson diamond surrounded by nine stars.

“THE CRIMSON VISION TEAM MUST BE UNITED.”

The guardian paused. Then its voice lowered.

“BEFORE THE EMPRESS RETURNS.”

The Queen of Shadows

Deep within the Bloodthorn Citadel, Empress Nocturna sat upon a throne of black crystal.

Her long crimson gown spilled across the marble steps. A crown of twisted silver thorns rested upon her head.

In her hand, she held a dark orb. Inside it, she watched Sienna’s battle.

The empress smiled. “So...”

Her long fingernails tapped against the throne.

“The Van Woodenstein girl has finally awakened.”

A hooded general knelt before her.

“Your Majesty, shall I dispatch the Shadow Legion?”

Nocturna shook her head. “Not yet.”

She stood. “Let the girl enjoy her little victory.”

The orb displayed Sienna’s armored form. Nocturna’s smile widened.

“She doesn’t know what she is.”

The general lowered his head. “And when she discovers the truth?”

The empress approached the enormous stained-glass window overlooking her kingdom.

Outside, the crimson moon burned brighter.

“Then she will come to me willingly.”

The general hesitated. “Why would she do that, Your Majesty?”

Nocturna laughed softly. “Because...”

She placed one hand against the window.

“...I know what really happened to her family.”

The Girl Behind the Helmet

Back in Ravenhollow, Sienna finally deactivated her morpher. Her armor dissolved into crimson sparks.

Once again, she stood in her dark mage clothing.

The cathedral was quiet. Too quiet.

She picked up the crystal. “Crimson Ranger,” she murmured.

The words felt strange.

She had spent her entire life being told that dark magic was dangerous. That her family was cursed. That she should hide what she was.

And now some mysterious power had chosen her to become a hero.

A hero.

Sienna almost laughed. “Me?”

Salem rubbed his head against her cheek. She smiled faintly.

“Yeah. I don’t believe it either.”

Her gaze drifted toward the ruined altar.

For a moment, she remembered the mysterious woman’s words.

The darkness does not make you evil.

Sienna closed her fingers around the crystal.

“Whoever you are...”

She looked toward the crimson moon.

“...I hope you know what you’re doing.”

Suddenly, her morpher beeped. A hologram appeared.

It showed eight unfamiliar silhouettes. Beneath them were two words.

FIND THEM.

Sienna stared. Then she slowly smiled.

“Well, Salem...”

The raven chirped. She pulled her hood over her head.

“Looks like we’re going on an adventure.”

Together, the dark mage and her raven stepped into the crimson moonlight.

Neither noticed the shadow watching them from the cathedral’s broken bell tower.

A figure wearing black and silver armor. Its visor glowed blood-red.

And in its hand was a morpher identical to Sienna’s.

The figure whispered:

“At last, little sister.”

A flash of lightning illuminated the tower.

Then the mysterious Ranger disappeared.

TO BE CONTINUED...